Street Furniture Maintenance Manual
Care and maintenance of the street furniture are carried out depending on materials used in the product and the protective coating applied to its surface.
Commonly Used Materials and Finishes
- Carbon steel galvanised – the most robust kind of coating, resistant to all kinds of outdoor impacts.
- Carbon steel galvanised and painted – ensuring long-lasting outdoor durability and esthetic appearance.
- Stainless steel, grade AISI304 sanded G320 – has a semi-shiny look and is suited for extensively used spaces. Not recommended in polluted and coastal areas.
- Stainless steel, grade AISI304 bead-blasted – has a semi-matt look, can hardly be damaged or scratched, and is robust in aggressive environments.
- Cast iron for certain design benches, bike racks and posts – the anti-corrosion coating includes sandblasting, applying zinc primer and a final color coat ensuring long-lasting protection in moderate aggressive environments.
- Coniferous softwood (spruce, pine) varnished – attains a natural look and feel and needs refurbishing.
- IROKO hardwood, oiled – in reddish brown color, dense and long-lasting.
Influence of Environmental Conditions
- UV rays from the Sun diminish the surface protective layer, especially for coatings containing lesser colour pigment.
- Humidity and temperature fluctuations may result in swelling and shrinking of softwood and cracks may appear. Under lasting conditions of humidity, mould may develop.
- Hail and snow may act as an abrasion to the coating.
- Temperature fluctuations like heat from direct sun rays may result in forming cracks on wooden surfaces.
- Sand–salt (NaCl) mixture and other chemicals used for road maintenance may act as a corrosive agent damaging material and a protective layer.
- Polluted air with sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides turns into acid in water or humid environments.
- Ocean and sea coastal areas are influenced by ‘flying’ salt particles, making the environment particularly aggressive.
Care and Maintenance
- A long-lasting stack of melting snow on the horizontal wooden surfaces, e.g., on bench seats should be removed.
- Once a year after winter a visual inspection of the wooden surface should be carried out. In case a protective layer is damaged and/or cracks have appeared restoration of the wooden protective layer should be performed according to Wooden Surface Restoration Guide (see below).
- Sand-salt mixture and other aggressive chemicals close to street furniture should be spread with care avoiding direct contact. Salt crystals should be cleaned off by spraying and wiping with a cloth and a neutral or slightly alkaline water solution (pH 8-10).
- Stainless steel generally has a low-maintenance surface but for sanded surfaces exposed to contaminated urban, industrial or coastal areas it is recommended to apply a protective solution to achieve a shiny appearance and avoid stains. The surface forms a protective coat by spraying, rubbing and polishing the solution with a dry microfibre cloth.
The Expected Lifecycle
The life cycle of street furniture depends on environmental conditions and the maintenance carried out. Proper attention should be paid to wooden surfaces by following the Wooden Surface Restoration Guide (see below).
Proper maintenance usually exceeds the lifetime of street furniture to over ten years.
Wooden Surface Maintenance and Restoration Guide
Surface Maintenance
Surfaces treated with wood oils depending on environment conditions may need retreating as often as once a year.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Brush off dirt, dust and lose material from the surface. Use a spatula for hard particles or resin.
- Clean and wash mouldy spots with mould removal according to instructions. Wash vertical surfaces systematically from the bottom upwards to avoid runs. Let the surface dry.
- Cover with film and masking tape the surfaces not treated, e.g., steel structure.
- Carefully stir the paint. Cover the surface by using a painting brush. To avoid overlapping, apply the oil in continuous strokes to cover the whole surface evenly. Wipe off the excess oil from non-absorbing surfaces.
- Clean the brush with white spirit or appropriate cleaner. Dispose soaked material with care, it can be self-inflammable.
To be Considered
- The final surface colour depends on the species, hardness and original colour of the wood, and the number of times it has been treated.
- Mould Removal lightens wood surfaces considerably.
- Test a small area of similar wood before application.
- Surfaces treated with oil will finally cure and harden after a week in normal conditions. After treatment, they will become dust dry in approx. two days and can be cleaned gently with a soft brush, damp cleaning cloth or mop.
- Check the state of the treated surfaces annually but repaint it not too often to avoid the formation of film on the surface.